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Wednesday, June 8, 2011

The Pageantry of Writing

I found myself pondering the similarity between writing and beauty pageants last night. I know a few of you blinked at that, but it's true. Hear me out...

When you're in a pageant, you're in it to win it. You do your best, make sure you look your best, and wear the brightest smile you can muster even when you don't win. As a matter of fact, you go out of your way to show those who placed how happy you are for them--even if you really aren't.

(ETA: It's damn hard to be happy for someone when you're hurting and they're holding the prize. I don't know anyone who doesn't need a day or so to walk to off the sting and get their head on straight. There's nothing wrong with that. It's human nature. By the time your sincere happiness for them sets in, you'll be glad you did the right thing in the first place.)

When you write a book and submit it--you've done your best, you made sure it was polished and at its best, and you keep smiling even when you're given revisions or rejections. You keep you chin up and congratulate those around you when they land contract after contract and you feel as if you have nothing to show for your effort.

(ETA: See ETA above.)

See? Similar.

I suppose it's all in how you look at it. It's all in how bad you want something and how hard you're willing to work to get it. Can you always go home with a crown? No, and contracts are just as rare. I guess what I'm leading up to is while everyone wishes at some point to be the pretty girl going home with the rhinestone tiara, we can't all be that girl. We have to take turns.

There will always be someone prettier than you, smarter than you, or that has worked harder than you have. It's a fact of life, and here's another--the only thing in life you can control is yourself.

Do your best. Be your best. Eventually, you will be rewarded.

I know it's hard to believe that. In a few months, I might need to re-read this post and remind myself of that fact. All I can do is work harder, learn more, and hope the right idea hits the right person the right way.

I feel I should also add everything I know about beauty pageants I learned from watching Miss Congeniality. I meant no offense by my comparison. :)